Central America and the Caribbean

The Panama Canal  The United States won control of the Panama Canal and a ten mile area surrounding the canal by supporting if not encouraging Panama to seek independence from Colombia.

The Panama Canal The United States built and controlled the Panama Canal due to a series of treaties that turned control of the canal over to Panama in The United States built and controlled the Panama Canal due to a series of treaties that turned control of the canal over to Panama in

Native and Colonial Central America  The Mayan people built a great civilization in southern Mexico and Central America.  The Mayan created many temple cities that were used for religious rituals.  Each Mayan city was independent from the others and ruled by a god-king.

Spanish Rule Ends  Spain ruled Central America until 1821 when Mexico won its independence..  In 1823, the all of the Central American countries declared their independence form Mexico and entered into an alliance called the United Provinces of Central America.

Caribbean Influences  The islands of the Caribbean were inhabited by the Taino when Christopher Columbus arrived.  He believed that they would make good workers but most of them died quickly from disease.

Slavery is Introduced in the Caribbean  Africans were brought to the Caribbean to replace the Taino.  The slaves were brought to work on the sugar plantations.  The introduced African population has helped to shape the culture of the islands.

Multi Cultured Caribbean  By the 1800s, many European countries had claimed islands in the Caribbean for sugar production

Caribbean Independence  Haiti was a French colony that successfully won its independence as a rebellion of the slaves, led by Toussaint L’Ouverture overtook the French government on the island. Toussaint L’Ouverture

Other Successful Revolutions  Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago all achieved full independence from Great Britain in 1962

Cultural Blends  Central America –Native American –Spanish –Catholicism –Rural populations –Spanish language Problems Related to Conquest –Deforestation –Inequitable economic divisions –Dislocation of people  Caribbean –Mixed European –Native American –African –Catholicism –Protestantism –African religions –Urban populations –Spanish, English, and Dutch languages Problems Related to Conquest –Slavery

Economics  Generally, the common people in Central America and the Caribbean are poor due to the legacy of colonialism. –Commercial farming –10% of world coffee –Bananas –Forest products

Popular Culture  Music- –Calypso: Combination of African, Spanish, and Caribbean island elements, using steel drums, guitars and improvised lyrics.

Reggae  Developed in Jamaica in the 1960s, as a combination of Caribbean, African and American musical elements.  Reggae deals with social and religious issues. Bob Marley

Tourism and Informal Economy  Caribbean: –Rapid population growth is leading to high unemployment. –Schools are preparing students for tourism industry and agriculture. Informal Economy: Many in Central America and the Caribbean work in informal economic industries such as street vending, and shoe shining as a way to make enough money daily to eat.

Poverty in the Caribbean